Mary Vingoe

Mary Vingoe is a well-known figure in Canadian Theatre. A director, Artistic Director, Festival Director, playwright, teacher and actor who has worked across the country, Vingoe is celebrated for co-founding four major theatre companies in Canada. She is the founding Artistic Director of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival at Canada’s National Arts Centre in Ottawa. She is a co-founder and past Artistic Director of Toronto’s Nightwood Theatre, a co-founder and past co-Artistic Director of Ship’s Co. Theatre in Parrsboro, NS and a co-founder and past Artistic Director of The Eastern Front Theatre in Halifax.

Vingoe has directed at theatres across the country including the National Arts Centre, Tarragon Theatre, the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and Neptune Theatre. She is also a noted Canadian playwright. Her play Refuge premiered in Halifax at Eastern Front Theatre in 2013 has received productions across the country. Refuge, published by Scirocco Press, was a finalist for the Nova Scotia Masterworks Award and was short listed for the 2016 Governor General’s Award for Drama. Her new play Some Blow Flutes premiered at the Busstop theatre in October 2018 and was nominated for best new play at the 2019 Merritt Awards.

Mary Vingoe is the recipient of the Portia White Award for artistic excellence and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2011 for her contribution to Canadian theatre.